Reynolds responds in win over Rabbitohs
Josh Reynolds has responded to questions about his future by guiding Canterbury to a 24- 9 NRL win over Souths at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium last night.
With the Bulldogs linked to offcontract superstars Kieran Foran and Cooper Cronk, Reynolds’ future at Belmore is up in the air.
However, he put in a compelling case for a contract extension, scoring one try, saving one and setting up another as the Bulldogs notched their third win in a row on Good Friday.
After the Rabbitohs took a 9- 8 lead into halftime, Reynolds wrenched back the momentum for his side.
First, he ran down Souths halfback Adam Reynolds just centimetres from the line before minutes later playing a key role in his side taking the lead.
He drifted across field, sending Brenko Lee inside, who popped it to Josh Jackson for the Bulldogs’ goahead try to make it 14- 9 in the 63rd minute.
Reynolds also scored Canterbury’s opening try after half an hour, grubbering for the in- goal and sneaking under Rabbitohs fullback Alex Johnston to ground the ball inches from the dead- ball line.
Coach Des Hasler looks set to shuffle No 7 Moses Mbye between the halves and hooker, after back- up playmaker Matt Frawley was brought on in the 25th minute and combined beautifully with Reynolds.
It also raises questions about No 9 Michael Lichaa’s future, after he spent the final 55 minutes on the bench.
Souths captain Sam Burgess faces a nervous wait after being penalised for a shoulder charge on Greg Eastwood and is in danger of missing next week’s clash with Brisbane.
Sydney Roosters five- eighth Luke Keary has continued his NRL resurrection with the game- breaking try in his team’s 24- 6 win over Newcastle last night. The Roosters were leading 12- 6 midway through the second half when Keary seized the initiative with an individual try.
The win means the Tricolours avoid a three- game losing streak to sit temporarily alongside ladder leaders Melbourne and St George Illawarra on five wins. But for the bottom- placed Knights, the defeat extends their losing streak to five.
The Broncos broke Gold Coast hearts by scoring a 78th- minute try to snatch a 24- 22 win over the Titans in last night’s late game.
Gold Coast scored three first- half tries and led 16- 10 heading into the final quarter when hosts Brisbane touched down twice in four minutes to go ahead for the first time 20- 16.
But the Titans, who have won only once this season and were seeking just a second victory in 12 attempts in Brisbane, regained the lead 22- 20 with a 71st- minute Kane Elgey try.
But a chargedown paved the way for James Roberts to complete his hattrick and clinch victory with barely a minute remaining in front of a crowd of more than 30,000.